October 24, 2016

Freeze all approvals to highway concessions, says Rafizi

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli slammed Putrajaya for wasting money on highway concessions when other sectors like education and health have seen drastic drops in allocations at the Budget 2017 sitting.

He said RM3.9 billion was allocated for the Sungai Besi–Ulu Kelang Highway (SUKE) and East Klang Valley Highway (EKVE), adding that the amount was equivalent to 12 per cent of the services and supply spending allocated in Budget 2017.

“I urge the federal government to freeze all approvals to highway concessions and utilise the funds on the people instead.

“As it is, the funding for education, higher education, and health which are essential to the people has been drastically reduced,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Rafizi said the spending is all the more unjust as government’s coffers now depend on loans, GST and other taxes.

The Pandan MP will write to Prime Minister Najib Razak, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof as well as Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali on the matter.

“I want to stress that all approvals in regards to highway concessions must be immediately frozen so that the people’s money will not be wasted.”

On another note, Rafizi took a swipe at Najib for telling poor Malaysians to become Uber drivers.

“Perhaps Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor should also become Uber drivers to cover their daily expenses.

“Najib’s salaries, allowances and other costs that are covered by the government can be used to help the people instead.

“He can drive Uber at night when there is not much for him to do,” said Rafizi.